National Stress Awareness Month
04/18/2014
Stress Awareness: Remember to Take Time to Relax
Although stress is often thought of as a negative physical condition, it’s actually an important feature of human biology. The sympathetic stress response is a survival mechanism that’s hard wired into our nervous systems. It gives us the all-important “fight or flight” response we need when we’re faced with danger. However, living in a constant state of stress is known to be physically harmful in the long run. What is Stress? According to The Federal Occupational Health (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) website, when a person perceives a threat, stress hormones rush into your bloodstream—increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose levels. Other hormones also suppress functions like digestion and the immune system, which is one of the reasons why chronic stress can leave a person more vulnerable to illness. Danger triggers the stress response but, unfortunately, so can work conflicts, worry over debt, bad memories, or anxiety. Although one bad day at work won’t compromise your health, weeks or months of stress can dampen your immune response and raise your risk for disease. That’s why it’s important to keep stress in check. Relax and Recharge Be sure to make time for fun and relaxation so you’ll be better able to handle life’s stressors. Carve some time out of your day—even 10 to 15 minutes—to take care of yourself. Also, remember that exercise is an excellent stress reliever. Everyone has different ways they like to relax and unwind. Here are a few ideas to get you started: - Take a walk
- Read a book
- Go for a run
- Have a cup of tea
- Play a sport
- Spend time with a friend or loved one
- Meditate
- Do yoga
- Seek support from other caregivers. You are not alone!
- Take care of your own health so that you can be strong enough to take care of your loved one.
- Accept offers of help and suggest specific things people can do to help you.
- Learn how to communicate effectively with doctors.
- Caregiving is hard work so take respite breaks often.
- Watch out for signs of depression and don’t delay in getting professional help when you need it.
- Be open to new technologies that can help you care for your loved one.
- Organize medical information so it’s up to date and easy to find.
- Make sure legal documents are in order.
- Give yourself credit for doing the best you can in one of the toughest jobs there is!